Pickups return for recyclables

Nonprofit group to use convicts to collect paper for recycling

Posted: Monday, June 25, 2001

By JOANNA MARKELLTHE JUNEAU EMPIRE

Juneau offices that have been stockpiling paper for recycling will see relief starting next week.

Gastineau Human Services plans to restart pick-up services for recycled white paper, computer paper and newsprint, according to Executive Director Greg Pease. The nonprofit group discontinued pickup at the end of April, citing a lack of community service workers to sort and retrieve paper.

A new day-reporting center for convicted criminals required to perform community service work in GHS' Lemon Creek complex should help stabilize the stream of workers, Pease said.

"It seemed to work so well over the years that we've been doing it, it makes sense to continue it," Pease said.

The changes are the result of contract negotiations with the city, and GHS will be able to draw on people who are sentenced to community work service by the state and the city, said City Manager Dave Palmer. The city will provide about $26,000 in additional funding to GHS because of the changes, Pease said.

GHS also will continue its participation in the city's Junkbusters clean-up program, Pease said.

GHS recycling coordinator Andre Votion said he plans to contact about 130 offices and businesses this week that used to receive pick-up services to set up new routes and schedules. Drop-off containers at Alaskan & Proud market and Fred Meyer also will reopen. In previous years, GHS handled about 550 tons of recycled paper a year, he said.

At Copy Works, manager Marty White said employees have collected between 12 and 14 boxes of recycled paper since pick-up services stopped.

"We're stockpiling it at the moment, hoping they'll start it up," he said. "It should give us some more room in here."

Capital Copy General Manager Beth Melville said her business used to give GHS two boxes of recycled paper a week, but has been throwing the material away since pickup ceased.

"We had no way of knowing exactly how long it would go on and no way to stockpile it," she said.